That rule only applies if you are planning to save the seeds from one or both of them.

If you are planning to save the seeds, you can hand-pollinate the female flowers, then carefully tape them closed with masking tape to make sure no insects can get inside.

The site below tells you how to do it.

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: Hand-pollinating squashes

Sue,

Thanks for the response - that is extremely helpful information! I appreciate you taking the time!

If they were both cucumbers, it would take a lot more than 200 feet of seperation. In your case the Armenian cucumber is actually a melon (Cucumis melo) which does not cross with cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) Be careful tho, The Armenian will cross with cantaloupes, honeydews and the like within the flight pattern of a bee. If you have other gardeners nearby growing either melons or other cultivars of cucumbers, than follow Sues instructions for hand pollination.

You do understand tho that as Sue pointed out, crossing is only a concern if you wish to save the seeds to plant next year, right? That none of the crops this year will affected in any way?

Reason I ask is that we often get questions about crossing where the gardener assumes this year's fruit are immediately affected if crossing occurs.

Dave

You are all so kind to post responses.

Farmerdilla, I had no idea that Armenian cucumbers are not actually cucumbers! Thanks for pointing that out! This small fact has really caused me to re-plan my garden lay-out!

Dave (and Sue), thanks also. I do hope to save seeds, so Sue's link will be helpful. No need to respond to this, but it is interesting that the fruits of a cross-pollinated plant are mostly unaffected, but it seems they are not wholly so, if there is a difference in the seeds. I assume a difference in the seeds can affect the taste of the seeds, even if its appearance is the same. Maybe I will check out an intro botany book and try to learn about plant growth to have more than a "layman's" perspective. : ) That is, when I find a suitable break from my regular studies (i.e., late ancient history). : )

The only plant I am aware of where taste is affected (enough to notice) in seeds are when sweet and hot peppers are grown in proximity. Seeds from hot peppers are hot. Seeds from sweet peppers aren't. Seeds inside a green pepper fruit, pollinated by a hot pepper plant may be hot.